Thank you for visiting ourBALLET FOLKLORICOwebsite. Through research and extensive travel through Mexico our goal is not only to teach the best BALLET FOLKLORICO CLASSESin Riverside County, the Inland Empire and Southern California but to create performing arts productions to share around the world the beauty and cultural diversity of Mexican Ballet Folklorico. We also offer ballet folklorico show performances to liven events.

BALLET FOLKLORICO LEYENDA offers ballet folklorico classes for kids (Class is one and a half hours for children) as well as youth and young adults up to 30 years old with good fitness to sustain 3 hours of cardio. Our performance team who represents ballet folklorico in large media productions, national and international tours is made with dancers who live close to Corona California (within 25 miles) and the inland empire were they can be consistent and willing to attend all classes and perform in the shows. Directors reserve the right to refuse service.

WHAT IS BALLET FOLKLORICO? Ballet folklorico is the ethnic dance or folk dance from a country. In the case of our group we teach Mexican ethnic dance. The traditional dances from Mexico are many and they are ever evolving. In our group we have adapted them to fit performing arts standards and be suitable to be in Red carpet Galas and concerts as well as massive events. We create our own choreography and routines and have our own unique stile often copied for its vibrance.

HOW TO COME PREPARED FOR BALLET FOLKLORICO DANCE CLASS? To come well prepared to a ballet class is important. But it is also important not to bring too much unnecessary things. Children, teens and young adults are encouraged to bring water, juice or a beverage that has good healthy electrolytes like Gatorade or a similar drink. You should have eaten something light of a snack that gives you energy to be released on time for the practice. Example: Granola bar approximately one hour before class. Each student is different so please gage your own energy level and calculate what you need to do so you can do your best in the duration of your class. Come mentally ready to dance and leave all issues at the edge of the dance floor and enjoy. Dancing requires memorization, drive, determination to practice and repeat the steps until they are memorized and feel natural.

HOW TO LEARN BALLET FOLKLORICO? To learn Ballet Folklorico is a process that takes time and it is different from one person to another person. At first it feels like the steps are complicated but in a month or two, students who are serious start noticing that everything starts to feel more natural and familiar. It is necessary to practice what you learned in class at home. You can see the YouTube Channel LEYENDA DANCE COMPANY for samples of songs to view and practice at home. Also, come prepared with questions. You can at any time ask us questions via text or email. You can arrive early to class and ask to be helped with steps. Try memorizing the songs by listening to them. That's why the YouTube channel is for.

HOW TO DRESS FOR BALLET FOLKLORICO CLASS? Children, teens and young adults are encouraged to bring water, dress in black workout clothing and wear hair out of the way in a bun. Men are encouraged to bring bandanas or hand towels for sweat. Please cover your shoes with double socks to protect the dance floor or wear ballet boots. (Please ask us what these are) They do not have nails and have soft leather bottoms. NO LOGOS in clothing. Unless is our LEYENDA T-shirts. We want a professional image in our class which is your class.

WHAT TO EXPECT IN MY FIRST FOLKLORICO CLASS? The first class feels overwhelming to some students regardless of their age. The reason is that yo come into a class where people have been there already and have practiced longer than you. The first thing that you will notice is that the steps are complex. Women often say that performing the steps and the skirt movement is challenging. It is. The arms are moving in circular motions to make the skirt "fly" while performing steps that are very specific and intricate. However you have to keep this in mind: EVERY BODY THAT REMAINED IN CLASS AND PRACTICED HAS LEARNED. It is just a matter of time until every one has learned. We always tell our students that this is just like any other sport. It takes a normal amount of time to learn a new sport. You also have to WANT to learn. People who feel like giving up at the first challenge take longer. It takes a positive mind and a good home environment that reinforces this philosophy in order to succeed.

HOW LONG APPROXIMATELY TO LEARN BALLET FOLKLORICO (TEENAGERS)? Teenagers are typically different than children in the sense that often they are the ones that decide to join a folklorico class and not the parents who are suggesting them to join a class. For this reason they are more determined to learn. Also they have developed their top cognitive skills. In other words, memorization, coordination, team work skills, listening and following instruction and attention span. All that is already there and with great coaching, we see the teens and young adults learn very quickly in comparison with the children. Children often have an attention span more limited and correlated naturally to their age. It is just a longer process but they do very well and we have great children dancers in our academy.

WHAT ITEMS DO I NEED TO OBTAIN TO BE IN BALLET FOLKLORICO DANCE TEAM? Children students have to eventually after they learn the dances get their own wardrobe. Teenagers and Young adults who are over 5' 2" tall we have wardrobe that can be used for the shows and given back at the show as long as it fits.

HOW OFTEN ARE THERE SHOWS TO PERFORM IN BALLET FOLKLORICO LEYENDA? We have shows often. We try to rotate the dance students in a way that everyone who is ready can participate. Ready means that the dance skill is well and memorized and that there are no significant mistakes or lack of synchronization when dancing with the rest of the team.

WHAT AGE IS IDEAL TO START BALLET FOLKLORICO IN LEYENDA GROUP? We feel that the ideal age to start ballet folklorico classes is 7 years old. At 7 years old, children have developed good memorization skills and a drive to really do the exact steps that are being shown in class. We have had toddler classes in the past but that is more like a fun class to introduce the child to the cultural dance. At an age younger than seven, the children often under and focus only for brief periods of time. Toddlers love fun games and enjoy more like the skills of making a line or holding hands and make a circle and learn left from right and steps are very difficult for them until they reach at least 6 years of age.